HUNDREDS of mourners turned out to witness the unveiling of a plaque dedicated to a soldier who was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan last October.

Lance Corporal James Hill, 23, was leading a Mortar Platoon of the Aldershot-based 1st Batallion Coldstream Guards in Helmand province when he died.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council decided a permanent tribute to him should be built at the site of the war memorial at Shaw’s Corner in Redhill.

Among the tearful onlookers at Thursday's ceremony were James’s parents, Claire and Brian, and his fiancée Anastasia Newman, as well as soldiers from his regiment who are currently on leave.

“It was a fitting tribute to James, definitely,” said Miss Newman.

“It is wonderful that the council have honoured him in this way and it is amazing how many people have come along to be here today.

“That just enforces how many lives he touched when he was with us.

“Soldiers from his regiment have been really supportive of all the fundraising events we have done in his name and many of them have come down from all over the country to be here.”

The granite plaque, which reads "To the memory of the fallen, L/Cpl James M. Hill, Age 23, Mortar Platoon, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, 8 October 2009 – Afghanistan”, was covered with poppies during the brief ceremony.

Utmost respect

Among the mourners was L/Sgt Neil Ambler who served with him in the Coldstream Guards and travelled down from Windsor to attend the ceremony.

He said: “James was a lovely young guy who lived for the job.

“He was very fit and kept himself busy, he was happy all the time and whenever you gave him a job to do he would do it with a smile on his face.”

The Mayor of Reigate & Banstead, Councillor David Pay, laid a wreath during the ceremony, and he said he believed the borough had a responsibility to ensure servicemen and women were treated well.

Addressing soldiers and mourners afterwards, Cllr Pay unveiled 'Welcome for Heroes’, a scheme that encourages businesses across Surrey to be more welcoming towards soldiers.

He said: “It is all for you, you do your best for us each and every day.

“It is about making heroes aware that wherever they go in the borough they will be treated with the respect they deserve.

“These men and women are not looking for a free drink in the pub, however some have been turned away from shops.

“I was absolutely beside myself with rage when I heard stories of serving soldiers being kicked out of shops and I decided to make people aware of the situation.

“The amount of bravery that members of the armed forces take on in their job and the risks they face deserve our utmost respect.”